System and method for searching and retrieving related messages

ABSTRACT

A system and method is provided which utilizes a threading service to offer enhanced features for a document management system including an email system. Various enhanced email features may be provided through one or more of the following components: a delete module, a reply module, a profile module, and a search module. The delete module enables a user to delete a selected message, a set of related messages, or the whole set except for the selected message. The reply module enables a user to send a reply message to all addresses associated and involved with an entire set of related messages. The profile module enables a dynamic interest profile to contain all relevant information from an outgoing message and a set of messages related to the outgoing message. The search module enables search results to include documents which match the user&#39;s query as well as documents related to the documents which match the user&#39;s query.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/745,588 entitled “System and Method for Searching and RetrievingRelated Messages,” filed Dec. 29, 2003, and incorporated herein byreference. This application is related to the commonly owned U.S. Patentapplications entitled “System and Method for Deleting Related Messages,”U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/745,488, “System and Method forReplying to Related Messages,” U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/745,495, and “System and Method for Building Interest Profiles fromRelated Messages,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/745,589, eachfiled herewith and incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an email system that utilizes a threadingservice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional email systems typically include a search feature thatenables a user to search for a desired email message. When searching foran email message, users often have some knowledge about the desiredemail message. From this knowledge, users select one or more searchterms to build a query. This query is used to select those messages thatmatch the query (i.e. search for messages with “patent”).

However, when a message is part of a set of related messages, some ofthe related messages may not include one or more of the search termsthat match the query. In some cases, the related messages that do notinclude the search terms are ones desired by the user. In these cases,the user may find one message among the set of related messages, but notnecessarily the desired message or all the related messages.

What is needed is an improved search feature that utilizes a threadingservice in order to provide the user with messages including one or moresearch terms and one or more related messages, regardless of whether therelated messages include the search terms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention solving these and other problems includes retrieval of amessage that matches a user's query as well as a set of messages relatedthereto. In some embodiments, the invention retrieves the message thatmatches the query along other messages belonging to the same thread.

According to various embodiments of the invention, a search moduleallows a user to search for email messages in a variety of ways,including “Search Only for Messages that Include Search Terms” or“Search for Messages that Include Search Terms and All Messages inThread.” In some embodiments of the invention, the search module mayutilize a threading service. This threading service may reside locallyat a user terminal or remotely on a server.

According to various embodiments of the invention, to access aspects ofthe invention, a user selects a search command from, for example, a menuof the email system. Other mechanisms for initiating a search areavailable as would be apparent.

In some embodiments of the invention, the search module provides theuser with a query box in which the user may enter one or more searchterms. After entering the one or more search terms, the user may selectfrom among various search options available to the user. These searchoptions may include “Search Only for Messages that Include Search Terms”or “Search for Messages that Include Search Terms and All Messages inThread.”

If the user wants to receive only those messages that include the searchterms, the user may select “Search Only for Messages that Include SearchTerms.” If the user wants to receive those messages that include thesearch term along with one or more related messages, the user may select“Search for Messages that Include Search Terms and All Messages inThread.”

After the user has selected a search command, the search module maygenerate the search results. If the selected search command is “SearchOnly for Messages that Include Search Terms,” the search module searchesand retrieves those messages that include the search terms.

If the selected search command is “Search for Messages that IncludeSearch Terms and All Messages in Thread,” the search module searches forand retrieves those messages that include the search terms. Then, foreach message that includes the search terms, the search module alsodetermines whether that message is related to other messages. In someembodiments of the invention, the search module determines whether thatmessage belongs to a thread of messages. If so, in either case, thesearch module retrieves a list of messages related to the message thatincludes the search terms, from, for example, a threading service. Thus,for this search command, the search results include a message thatincludes the search terms along with messages related to that message.

In some embodiments of the invention, after the search results arecomplied, the search module may display the search results in variousways. The search module may display the search results in order ofrelevance, date or any other mechanism. In some embodiments, the searchresults may include an indication so that the user may recognize that aparticular message includes the search terms while another message isrelated to a message that includes the search terms. In someembodiments, the search results may include an indication so that theuser may recognize which messages are related to one another.

In some embodiments of the invention, the search results that aredisplayed may include an initial message of a set of related messages orthread of messages, where at least one message therein includes thesearch terms. The displayed initial message may include an indicationwhether it includes the search terms. In some embodiments, the user mayexpand/collapse the thread of messages from the displayed initialmessage.

In some embodiments of the invention, the search results that aredisplayed may include a message that includes the search terms. Thedisplayed message may include an indication of whether it is related toother message, for example, as part of a thread of messages. In someembodiments, the user may expand/collapse the thread of messages fromthe displayed message.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings. The drawings are designed for purposes ofillustration only and the invention is not limited to the particularsshown therein. Various alternatives and modifications within the scopeof the invention will be apparent from the description contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an email system that utilizes a threading serviceaccording to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface for an email system according tovarious embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates various delete options provided by a delete module ofan email system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates various reply options provided by a reply module ofan email system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates various search options provided by a search module ofan email system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a profile module of an email system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the invention are described below in terms ofemail systems that include one or more email messages. However, it willbecome apparent from reading the following description how variousaspects of the invention may be used with other types of systems thatinclude one or more items, such as, for example, file systems.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 according to one embodiment of theinvention. System 100 includes an email system 120 on a user terminal102 and a threading service 110 operating on or hosted by a server 108.According to various aspects of the invention, threading service 110provides enhanced features for email system 120. These enhanced featuresfor email system 120 may be achieved through various componentsoperating on or in conjunction with email system 120. These componentsinclude one or more of the following: a delete module 130, a replymodule 140, a profile module 150, and a search module 160.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, threading service 110 may be utilized onserver 108. It should be understood that threading service 110 may belocated on user terminal 102 or any machine or machines associated withuser terminal 102. While illustrated as separate from email system 120,it should also be understood that threading system 110 may be anintegral part of email system 120 as would be appreciated.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, threading service 110 may be operativelycoupled to server 108. Threading service 110 may include a database tostore any type of data or information. Threading service 110 mayinclude, or interface to, for example, the Oracle™ relational databasesold commercially by Oracle Corporation, InformiX™, DB2 (Database 2) orother data storage or query formats, platforms, or resources such asOLAP (On Line Analytical Processing), SQL (Standard Language Query), aSAN (storage area network), Microsoft Access™ or any other type ofdatabase.

Server 108 may be or include, for instance, a workstation runningMicrosoft Windows™ NT™, Microsoft Windows™ 2000, Microsoft Windows™ XP,Unix, Linux, Xenix, IBM, AIX™, Hewlett-Packard UX™, Novell Netware™, SunMicrosystems Solaris™, OS/2™, BeOS™, Mach, Apache, OpenStep™, or otheroperating system or platform.

In some embodiments of the invention, threading service 110 tracksrelationships between various items including messages, documents,and/or other items. Various threading services may be used such as thosedescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/334,087 (PublicationNo. US20030163537A1), entitled “Method and Apparatus for HandlingConversation Threads and Message Groupings as a Single Entity,” filedDec. 30, 2002, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/995,151(Publication No. US20030101065A1), entitled “Method and Apparatus forMaintaining Conversation Threads in Electronic Mail,” filed Nov. 27,2001, the specifications of which are herein incorporated by referencein their entirety. It should be noted that the invention is not limitedto any particular mechanism for determining threads among a set ofdocuments including email messages. Other threading services may also beused as would be apparent.

User terminal 102 may be operatively coupled over a network 106 via acommunications link 104. Examples of user terminal 102 may include anyone or more of, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop or otherportable computer, a hand-held computer device such as a Blackberry, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA), a web-enabled mobile phone, or a PalmPilot, or any other computer device.

Network 106 may include any one or more networks. For example, network106 may include the Internet, an intranet, a PAN (Personal AreaNetwork), a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a SAN(Storage Area Network), a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), or othernetwork.

Communications link 104 may include any one or more communicationslinks. For example, communications link 104 may include a coppertelephone line, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection, a DigitalData Service (DDS) connection, an Ethernet connection, an IntegratedServices Digital Network (ISDN) line, an analog modem connection, acable modem connection, a wireless connection, or other communicationslink.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary user interface 200 for email system 120according to various embodiments of the invention. User interface 200may includes a toolbar 222 from which a user may manage one or moreemail messages in email system 120. Toolbar 222 may include variousitems related to email features including any one or more of New Message222 a, Reply 222 b, Delete 222 c, Forward 222 d, Send/Receive 222 e,Search 222 f Toolbar 222 may include other items corresponding to otheremail feature as would be apparent.

Items included in toolbar 222 allow a user to access various aspects ofthe invention. For example, selecting Reply 222 b invokes access toreply module 140, selecting Delete 222 c invokes access to delete module130, and selecting Search 222 f invokes accesses to search module 160.

Further, user interface 200 may also include a list of messages 224 forpresentation and display to the user. For example, list of message 224may include new and saved email messages for the user. In someembodiments of the invention, each message of message set 224 includes aselection box 226 as illustrated Selection box 226 allows a user toselect one or more messages and subsequently direct a performance of anaction on that message, such as, for example reply, forward, or deleteor other action. Although messages are described as being selected viaselection box 226 in user interface 200, messages may be selected invarious other ways, such as highlighting a message, clicking on amessage, or any other mechanism for selecting messages as would beapparent.

FIG. 3 illustrates various delete options that may be incorporated intouser interface 200 and provided or otherwise controlled by delete module130 according to one or more embodiments of the invention. Delete module130 allows a user to delete a selected message and/or related messagesin a variety of ways, including “Delete Selected Message Only” 332,“Delete All in Thread” 334, or “Delete All in Thread Except SelectedMessage” 336. Depending on which delete option is selected, deletemodule 130 may access threading service 110.

To utilize delete module 130 of the invention, a user selects one ormore messages from list of messages 224 presented in user interface 200.As discussed above, the user may accomplish this using selection box 226or some other selecting mechanism. In some embodiments, the selectedmessage may be a message that the user wishes to delete. In someembodiments, the selected message may be a message that the user wishesto keep, but the user may wish to delete any or all related messagesexcept the selected message. In some embodiments, the user may wish todelete the selected message and all related messages.

After selecting a message, the user may select “Delete” 222 c fromtoolbar 222 of email system 120. Selecting “Delete” 222 c accesses orotherwise invokes delete module 130. Subsequently, delete module 130 mayrequest a list of messages related to the selected message fromthreading service 110. The list of related messages includes theselected message and all messages in the same “thread,” or all messagesdetermined by threading service 110 to be related to the selectedmessage. The list of related messages may be stored in a temporarymemory buffer (not shown) of email system 120 and accessed by deletemodule 130.

In some embodiments, after delete module 130 retrieves the list ofrelated messages, delete module 130 may display various delete commandsthat provide the user with various delete options. These delete optionsmay include “Delete Selected Message Only” 332, “Delete All in Thread”334, or “Delete all in Thread Except Selected Message” 336. The user maythen select one of these in accordance with the action the user wishesto take. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes todelete only the selected message, the user selects “Delete SelectedMessage Only” 332. In some embodiments of the invention, if the userwishes to keep the selected message, but to delete all related messages,the user selects “Delete All in Thread Except the Selected Message” 336.In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to delete theselected message and all related messages, the user selects “Delete Allin Thread.”

After the user has selected a delete command, delete module 130 causesthe appropriate messages to be deleted. If the selected delete commandwas “Delete All in Thread Except the Selected Message” 336, each of themessages in the list of related message is compared with the originallyselected message. Those that do not match are deleted, leaving theoriginally selected message. In some embodiments of the invention,delete module 130 may simply mark the messages for deletion for thebenefit of another service (not otherwise illustrated) that actuallydeletes the messages as would be apparent. In some embodiments of theinvention, actual deletion may occur at contemporaneously, at a timespecified by email system 120, at a time specified by the user, or at atime determined by the deletion service.

If the selected delete command was “Delete All in Thread” 334, each ofthe messages in the list of related messages, including the selectedmessage is be deleted. As discussed above, delete module 130 may simplymark the messages for deletion for the benefit of another service.

If the selected delete command was “Delete Selected Message Only” 332,the originally selected message is deleted. Again, as discussed above,delete module 130 may simply mark the selected message for deletion.

FIG. 4 illustrates reply options that may be incorporated into userinterface 200 and provided or otherwise controlled by reply module 140according to one or more embodiments of the invention. Reply module 140allows a user to reply to a selected message in a variety of ways,including “Reply to Sender Only” 442, “Reply to All Recipients” 444, or“Reply to All in Thread” 446. Depending on which delete option isselected, reply module 140 may access threading service 110.

To utilize reply module 140 of the invention, a user selects one or moremessages from list of messages 224 presented in user interface 200. Asdiscussed above, the user may accomplish this using selection box 226 orsome other selecting mechanism. In some embodiments of the invention,the use may wish to reply to only the sender of the selected message. Insome embodiments of the invention, the user may wish to reply to all therecipients of the selected message. In some embodiments of theinvention, the user may wish to reply to all the recipients who receivedthe selected message or any message related to the selected message.

After selecting a message, the user may select “Reply” 222 b fromtoolbar 222 of email system 120. Selecting “Reply” 222 b accesses orotherwise invokes reply module 140. Subsequently, reply module 140 maydisplay various reply commands that provide the user with various replyoptions. These reply options may include “Reply to Sender Only” 442,“Reply to All Recipients” 444, or “Reply to All in Thread” 446. The usermay then select one of these in accordance with the action the userwishes to take. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishesto send a reply only to the sender of the selected message, the userselects “Reply to Sender Only” 442. In some embodiments of theinvention, if the user wishes to send a reply to all recipients of theselected message, the user selects “Reply to All Recipients” 444. Insome embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to send a reply toall the recipients of the selected message or any message related to theselected message, the user selects “Reply to All in Thread” 446.

After the user has selected a reply command, reply module 140 causes theappropriate reply message to be generated. If the selected reply commandwas “Reply to Sender Only” 442, reply module 140 simply inserts anaddress of the sender of the selected message into a reply message. Insome embodiments of the invention, reply module 140 retrieves an emailaddress from the “From” field of the selected message and inserts itinto the “To” field of the reply message as would be apparent.

If the selected reply command was “Reply to All Recipients” 444, replymodule 140 inserts an address of the sender and all recipients of theselected message into a reply message. In some embodiments of theinvention, reply module 140 retrieves email addresses from the “From,”“To,” “CC,” and/or “BCC” fields of the selected message and inserts theminto a corresponding field in the reply message as would be apparent.

If the selected reply command was “Reply to All in Thread” 446, replymodule 140 inserts an address of the sender, all recipients of theselected message, and all recipients of messages related to the selectedmessage into a reply message. In some embodiments of the invention,reply module retrieves email addresses from a list of messages relatedto the selected message. In some embodiments of the invention, this maybe accomplished using header information associated with each of themessages in the list of related messages to collect unique names oraddresses from the address fields therein. These names or addresses maythen be inserted into corresponding fields in the reply message.

In some embodiments of the invention, in order to “Reply to All inThread,” reply module 140 may request a list of messages related to theselected message from threading service 110. The list of relatedmessages includes the selected message and all messages in the same“thread,” or those messages determined by threading service 110 to berelated to the selected message. The list of related messages may bestored in a temporary memory buffer (not otherwise illustrated) of emailsystem 120. Reply module 140 may access the temporary memory buffer andretrieve the list of related messages.

In some embodiments of the invention, reply module 140 may gather headerinformation for each message in the list of related messages. The headerinformation gathered by reply module 140 may include a variety of datafields that are used for addressing, including, but not limited to:“From,” “To,” “CC,” “BCC,” “Sent on behalf of,” “Reply to,” or any otheraddress data field.

In some embodiments of the invention, reply module 140 may collect thenames or addresses from the address fields of the header data from eachrelated message, and adds only those unique names or addresses to astored list. The stored list of gathered header information may bestored in the temporary memory buffer (not otherwise illustrated). Insome embodiments of the invention, the stored list may includeinformation regarding the field from which the names or addressesoriginated. For example, “Joe Smith” may have been in the “From” fieldin one message and in the “To” field of a second message.

After the stored list of names or addresses has been compiled, replymodule 140 may create a reply message that is related to the originallyselected message. In some embodiments of the invention, reply module 140may insert the names or addresses from the stored list of names oraddresses into fields of the reply message corresponding to the fieldsfrom which the names or addresses originated (i.e., originating fields).In some embodiments of the invention, the corresponding field isdetermined by a rule set that specifies which originating fields causenames to be inserted into which address fields of the reply message withpriority information should the name or address originate in more thanone type of field.

In some embodiments of the invention, the user may also insertadditional names or addresses into the address fields of the replymessage as would be apparent.

FIG. 5 illustrates various search options that may be incorporated intouser interface 200 and provided or otherwise controlled by search module160 according to one or more embodiments of the invention. Search module160 allows a user to search a list of messages 224 and/or relatedmessage in a variety of ways, including “Search Only for Messages thatInclude Search Terms” 566 or “Search for Messages that Include SearchTerms and All Related Messages” 568. Depending on which search option isselected, search module 160 may access threading service 110.

To utilize search module 160 of the invention, a user selects menu item“Search” 222 f from toolbar 222 of email system 120. Selecting menu item“Search” 222 f accesses or otherwise invokes search module 160.Subsequently, search module 160 may display a query box 562 in which auser may enter one or more search terms 564. The user may then entersearch terms 564 comprising of a variety of text that is to be sought inlist of message 224 as would be apparent.

After the user enters search terms 564 into query box 562, the user mayselect from one or more search options provided by search module 160.These search options may include “Search Only for Messages that IncludeSearch Terms” 566 or “Search for Messages that Include Search Terms andAll Related Messages” 568. The user may select one of these inaccordance with the action the user wishes to take. In some embodimentsof the invention, if the user wishes to retrieve only those messagesthat include search terms 564, the user may select “Search Only forMessages that Include Search Terms” 566. In some embodiments of theinvention, if the user wishes to retrieve those messages that includesearch terms 564 and all messages that are related thereto, the user mayselect “Search for Messages Containing Search Terms and All RelatedMessages” 568.

After the user has selected a search command, search module 160 causesthe appropriate search results to be generated. If the selected searchcommand is “Search Only for Messages that Include Search Terms” 566,search module 160 searches message set 224 for messages that includesearch terms 564 as would be apparent and provides those message assearch results.

If the selected search command is “Search for Messages that IncludeSearch Terms and All Related Messages” 568, search module 160 searchesmessage set 224 for messages including search terms 564. Then, for eachmessage that includes search terms 564, search module 160 alsodetermines and/or retrieves messages related thereto, whether or not therelated messages include search terms 564. Search module 160 searcheseach message of message set 224 for entered search terms 564. In someembodiments of the invention, if the search terms are found including aparticular message, search module 160 determines whether the particularmessage belongs to a thread. If so, search module 160 requests a list ofmessages related to the particular message from, for example, threadingservice 110. This list of related messages may include the matchingmessage and all messages in the same “thread,” or those messagesdetermined by threading service 110 to be related to the particularmessage. The list of related messages may be stored in a memory buffer(not shown) of email system 120. Search module 160 may access andretrieve the list of related messages from the particular memory buffer.Search module 160 provides search results that include the message thatincluded the search terms 564 and the list of messages related thereto.

In some embodiments of the invention, after the search results arecomplied, search module 160 may display the search results in variousways. Search module 160 may display the search results in order ofrelevance, date or any other mechanism. In some embodiments, the searchresults may include an indication so that the user may recognize that aparticular message includes search terms 564, while another message isrelated to a message that includes search terms.

In some embodiments of the invention, the search results may bedisplayed such that only a set of related messages or thread of amessage, where at least one message there includes the search terms 564.In some embodiments of the invention, the user may expand/collapse theinitial message to view the entire list of related messages.

In some embodiments of the invention, the search results that aredisplayed may include these messages that include search terms 564. Thedisplayed results may include an indication of whether the message isrelated to other messages. In some embodiments, the user mayexpand/collapse the message to view the list of related messages.

FIG. 6 illustrates profile module 150 according to the variousembodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, profile module 150may use threading service 110 to expand topics and names used to createa dynamic interest profile 652. Dynamic interest profile 652 may begenerated and updated on the email system 120 of user terminal 102.

In some embodiments of the invention, profile module 150 automaticallyconstructs dynamic interest profile 652 in order to sort, cluster, andotherwise call attention to messages that may be of interest to a user.Dynamic interest profile 652 may include items 654 of user interestincluding topics 654 a, names 654 b, documents, 654 c, documentrepositories 654 d, or other items of user interest.

In some embodiments of the invention, profile module 150 may monitor alloutgoing messages that a user sends from email system 120. Outgoingmessages and messages related thereto may be used to construct items 654of dynamic interest profile 652, as described further below.

For each outgoing message, profile module 150 identifies whether theoutgoing message related to other messages, by, for example, beingrelated to a thread. If so, profile module 150 requests a list ofmessages related to the outgoing message from threading service 110. Thelist of related messages includes the outgoing message and all messagesin the same “thread,” or all those messages determined by threadingservice 110 to be related to the outgoing message. The list of relatedmessages may be stored in a memory buffer (not shown) of email system120. Profile module 150 may access and retrieve messages from the memorybuffer.

Profile module 150 scans the outgoing message and its related messagesfor terms to add to dynamic interest profile 652. The related messagesmay be incoming or outgoing messages. In some embodiments of theinvention, the profile module 150 may include an algorithm for weightingthe terms added to dynamic interest profile 652, such that, for example,the most relevant or frequently occurring terms appear first in dynamicinterest profile 652. In some embodiments of the invention, incoming andoutgoing messages may be weighted differently according to thealgorithm.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it isto be understood that modifications will be apparent to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope ofthe invention is not limited to the specific embodiments describedherein. Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in art from consideration of the specificationand practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification shouldbe considered exemplary only, and the scope of the invention isaccordingly intended to be limited by the following claims.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A system for searching a plurality of electronicmessages exchanged between a plurality of users in one or moreconversation threads, the system comprising: a graphical user interfacethat (i) receives a search query including one or more search terms froma user, (ii) enables the user to select one or more search options, and(iii) presents a search result to the user, wherein the graphical userinterface includes one or more views; and a search module that,responsive to the selection of one or more search options and/or thereceived search query, determines the search result, wherein the searchresult includes (i) one or more electronic messages that satisfy thesearch query by including at least one of the one or more search termsand (ii) one or more additional electronic messages that do not includeany of the one or more search terms and are included in at least oneconversation thread that includes at least one of the one or moreelectronic messages that satisfy the search query.
 18. The system ofclaim 17, wherein said search result further comprises, for a givenconversation thread that includes at least one of the one or moreelectronic messages that satisfy the search query, an initial electronicmessage, wherein the initial electronic message was temporally the firstmessage in the given conversation thread.
 19. The system of claim 18,wherein said search result further comprises an indication, for eachrespective electronic message included in the search result, whether therespective electronic message satisfies the search query.
 20. The systemof claim 18, wherein said search result further comprises an indication,for each respective electronic message included in the search result,whether the respective electronic message is related to an electronicmessage that satisfies the search query.
 21. The system of claim 17,wherein said search result further comprises a selectable indiciaassociated with each of the at least one conversation thread, andwherein in response to a user selection of the selectable indiciaassociated with the initial electronic message via the graphical userinterface the search result is collapsed by removing the electronicmessages included in the given conversation thread from the searchresult, with the exception of the initial electronic message.
 22. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein a conversation thread includes an initialelectronic message that begins the conversation thread, a series ofadditional electronic messages that reply to the initial electronicmessage, and further electronic messages that reply to one or more ofthe electronic messages included in the series of additional electronicmessages that reply to the initial electronic message.